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(No Model.) 7 SheetS- S heet 1.

W. N. GRAVES.

-HYDRMJLIO BRIGK MACHINE No. 326,288. Pa'tentedSe 15,1885.

Fig. .2 6, 4 Fig.2 I f 3' Aftest: hvelztor:

N, PETERS, Phalmulhagmphar, Walhinglun. D C.

' 'fSheets-Sheet 2. W. N. GRAVES.

HYDRAULIC BRICK MACHINE- (No Model.)

No. 326,288. Patented Sept. 15,1885.

Inventor. M'Zlli', 7V, 67 a; y W V .A t t8 8 "t (Zarle; Pic/fie;

N PETERS, Phninlilhngraphar. Wauhingion. D, C.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. N. GRAVES.

HYDRAULIC. BRICK MACHINE.

N. PETERS PhotoLilhograph-r, Wnhingion. D. C.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

W. N. GRAVES. HYDRAULIC BRICK MAGHINE.

Patented Sept. 15,1885.'

N PETERS. Pholo-Lilhognpher. Washinglnn. a. c.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

W. N. GRAVES.

HYDRAULIC BRICK MACHINE.

N0.-326,288. Patented Sept. 15, 1885.

Fig, )2

N PEYERS. PhoKc-Litlmgrzphur. Washington. D. c.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

W. N. GRAVES. I

HYDRAULIC BRICK MACHINE. No. 326,288. Patented Sept.-15, 1885.

mental;

UNITED STATES PATENT FFECE.

WILLIS N. GRAVES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASsIeNoR OF ONE-HALF TO THE HYDRAULIC PRESS BRICK COMPANY, or SAME PLACE.

HYDRAULIC BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,288, dated September 15, 1885.

' Application filed January 22, was. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIS N. GRAVES, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, haveinvented a certain new and useful Inn provement in Hydraulic Brick-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- IO Figure 1 is an elevation of a brick-machine having my improvements applied. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the high-pressure divisionvalve. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1, showing the main part of the machine in elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5 5, Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sections taken on line 6 7, Fig. 2, and on the same line, Fig. 8,

showing the high-pressure divisionvalve in elevation, Fig. 6 showing the parts in one po sition and Fig. 7 showing them in another position. Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8 8, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9 9, Fig. 10, showing parts of the levers and dogs in elevation. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are vertical sections taken on line 10 11, Fig. 9, the different figures showing the parts in different positions. Figs. 13 and 14 0 are diagrams illustrating different positions of the levers and dogs for operating the highpressure valve. Figs. 15 and 16 are vertical sections taken on line 15 16, Fig. 17, showing the parts in different positions, Fig. 15 showing the parts in the position they occupy when the followers have approached each other and completed the bricks in the mold, and Fig. 16 showing the parts in the position they occupy when the followers are raised. Fig. 17 is a .ro view of the parts in the position shown in Fig. 16, looking at the side of Fig. 16, indi eated by a star. Figs. 18 and 19 are vertical sections taken on line 18 19, Fig. 20, Fig. 18 showing the position of the parts when the charger is forward and the followers raised, and Fig. 19 showing the position of the parts when the chargeris back, the upper follower up, and thelower follower down. Fig. 20 is a vertical section taken on line 20 20, Fig. 18, showing the parts in the position they occupy when the followers are approaching each other in the mold, the bricks not being quite finished. Fig. 21 is a horizontal section taken on line 21 21, Figs. 1 and 16, showing the valve-box, levers, &c., in top view. Fig. 22 is a transverse Vertical section taken on line 22 22, Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is a similar view taken on line 23 23, Fig. 21. Figs. 24, 25, and 26 are enlarged detail views of the pull and push rod for operating the rock-shaft of the lower 6 follower, Figs. 24 and 25 being elevations,

and Fig. 26 a top View. Figs. 27 and 28 are isometric perspective views of the levers, &c., looking at different sides of Fig. 16.

My invention relates to certain improvements on the hydraulic brick-machines shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States issued to Ethan Rogers, September 19, 1876, No. 182,481, and September 11, 1877, No. 195,169. Where parts in this application are identical with those of either of said patents reference will be made to-the patents for a descriptiouof such parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the pipes 0, shown and described in the last-mentioned patent; B, the pipe D of'said patent for the passage of water from the pipe A to the upper mold-cylinder, O. The pipe A communicates directly with the lower mold-cylinder, D, as in the patent, and the water is sup- 8 plied to the pipe from the same source and by the same means as in said patents.

D and D represent the pistons or plungers of the upper andlower cylinders, O 1), respectively, carrying followers (3 and Dflwork- 8 5 ing in a mold, E, as in said patents, the lower follower, when in-its lower position, forming the bottom of the recesses of the mold, as in the last-mentioned patent. I have shown the same means to insure the descent of the lower fol- 0 lower that is shown and described in the lastmentioned patent, F representing the cylinder, F the piston-rod, F the supply-pipe, F the yoke or bar, andF" the rods that pass up through the metal of the cylinder D and 0011- 9 5 nect the bar with the lower piston.

The upper mold-piston is lifted by the same means as in the last-mentioned patent; but the water-engine G (lettered L in the patent) is placed on top of the cylinder 0 instead of I00 at the side of the machine, as in the patent, and its pistoirrod G10 carries a cross-head, G, with which the rods G (lettered N in the patent) that extend upward from the piston through the metal of the cylinder 0 are directly connected. The engine itself is con structed somewhat differently in my applica tion from that shown and described in the patent. \Vithin the cylinder (see Fig. 4) is a casing, G, having a flange, G, fitting over the upper end of the piston G and it has a contract-ed opening, G, in its lower end that re ceives a neck, G, on the upper end of the piston. G represents packing-rings surrounding the piston between the flange G of the casing and a flange or collar, G, on the lower end of the piston. Between the cross-head G, through which the piston-rod G passes, and a collar, G, on the rod is adisk, G through which passes set-screws G that enter the upper end of the casing G and by turning these screws the casing can be forced down 'on the packing-rings G8 to insure a tightfit between the piston and cylinder, and the screws act to prevent the casing from being forced too hard against the rings by the water pressure in the cylinder. Gr represents the stuifing box of the engine.

H represents the hopper, I the charger, I the watenengine of the charger, the piston-rod of which connects with the charger, I 1* the water-pipes of the engine, and I the valvebox, of the machine. All of these parts are the same as in the last-mentioned patent, and the valves in the box are also the same; but instead of being operated as in the patent, they are operated by rock-shafts J and K, the latter being hollow and fitting over the former; The valves of the water-pipes L of the upper follower are operated from the shaft J and those of the pipes I I of the charger are operated from the shaft K, and the shafts are rocked independently of each other by means hereinafter described. The shafts have short arms J and K, respectively, for operating one set of valves of the box to which the valves are directly connected, and they have arms J 2 and K respectively, for operating the other set of valves. These arms project outward from theshalts,theirin11er ends bearing against downward projections on the free ends of levers M, whose other ends are hinged at M to standards M secured to a plate, M, bolted or otherwise made fast to the valve-box. (See Figs. 21 and 22.) To these levers are secured the stems of the valves; and it will be seen that as the shafts rock and lift the free ends of the arms and levers the valves will be opened, and when the arms and levers move back the valves will be closed by springs The valves of the lower follower-pipes, N, are operated by a rock shaft, N the same as in the last-mentioned patent, and the shaft is rocked by the same engine .as in the patent, N representing the cylinder, N its piston, N the piston-rod, and N the extension ofthe shaft upon which the piston-rod works.

N N represent the arms on the rockshaft, (lettered e e in the patent,) and N 8 the trip, (lettered d in the patent.) Thetrip is thrown by a different device from that shown in the patent, but by the same device that is shown, described, and claimed in my application No. 153,657, filed herewith, N representing the trip-cylinder, N its piston or plunger, N the'regulating-cylinder, N its plug, N the lower follower-cylinder, N its plunger, N the upper follower-cylinder, N its plunger, N the bracket secured to the lower follower for operating the plunger N, N the bracket secured to the upper follower,- and N the rod for operating the plunger N and N the pipe that connects the plungercylinders with the trip-cylinder.

N represents the hand-lever of the trip shown and described in said application, and N its spring.

I will now proceed to describe the pull and push bar arrangement for operating the valves of the valve-box that supply Water to and exhaust it from the charger-engine, and for operating the valves of the valve-box that supply water to and exhaust it from the upper follower-engine.

0 represents arms secured to the shaft J that operates the valves of the valve-box that belong to the upper follower-engine. (See Figs. '15, 16, 17, 27, and 28.) These arms project downwardly from the shaft, as shown, and their lower ends bear against a quadrant, O, journaled at O to a bracket, 0, by which it is supported and allowed to rock back and forth. It has two bearing-surfaces, one for each arm 0, as shown, and as it is moved back and forth it rocks the shaft J through means of the arms to Open and close the valves, as stated. When it is moved from the position shown in Fig. 16 to that shown in Fig. 15, the valves that cause the upper follower to descend, as in said patent-,are opened,and when it is moved back said valves are closed and the valves that cause this follower to rise are opened. It is moved to open the first set of valves by the retrograde movement of the charger through means of a pull-bar, (see Figs. 3, 15, 27, and 28,) connected to the upper end of an arm, 0, by a pin,O, on arockshaft, 0 that has another arm, 0, connected to the charger by a pitman or link, 0 as in the last-mentioned patent. As the charger is required to have considerable more movement than the bar, I form a slot, 0, in the bar to receive the pin 0 so that the arm 0 has considerable movement in eitherdirectionbefore the pin comes in contactwith and causes the movement of the bar. The bar hasa book, 0 that engages a hook, 0 of a short bar, 0, hinged to the quadrant at O and supported by a keeper, 0"; or the hook 0 could engage the pin at O ,and bar 0 be dispensed with. As the charger pulls the quadrant over, the valves that cause the downward movement of the upper follower are opened, as above stated, and the. high-pressure division-valve Iro being allowed to open by the downward movement of this follower, as in said patent, the lower follower commences to move upward. The upper follower allows the valve toopen by turning its shaft Rthrough means of a bar, R, connected by its lower end to a crank, B on the shaft that has a pin, R fitting in a slot, R", of the bar; or the slot B may be made in the lower end of alink, R hinged at It to the bar, this arrangement allowing the bar to move in a vertical plane. The upper end of the bar is made fast to one end of a beam, R fulcrumed to a support at R, and conheated at its other end by means of a link, R, to the cross-head G, above mentioned.

It will be understood that the bar R goes up while the upper follower is going down, and vice versa, and the slot R permits the bar to -move in either direction without turning the shaft R until the proper time. Then the shaft is turned by this downward movement of the follower, it permits the high pressure division-valve to be opened by the water in the low-pressure pipe (which causes the lower follower to start upward) by operating (see Figs. 6, 7, and 8) a lever, T, l'ulcrumed at T to a support, T", and connected by its inner end to the sectional valvestem.

Connected to the outer end of the lever is an upwardly-extending rod, T passing through plates T",between which, surrounding the rod, is a spring, T

Through the outer ends of the plates pass two bars, 'I", (having shoulders at T to support-the lower plate and spring, above which they are round) that are connected at their lower ends to a crank, T on the shaft R. By

this connection with shalt R the valve ispermitted to be raised by the water-pressure, and as lever T is pulled down a spring, T around a post, T acts to regulate the amount of movement of the partsthat is, it prevents the parts moving by their momentum farther than is necessary to allow the valve to openand when the shaft is turned back aset-screw, T against which the crank T comes, prevents the parts being carried too far in this direction by their momentum. Thejoint between the lower ends of the bars and the crank T is in line T its stem, (made in two parts,) T the stuffing-box, and so on. These parts I have mentioned being lettered n, a, a and of, respectively, in said patent.

When the shaft is turned to pull down the outer end of the lever, it raises the upper section of the valvestem, allowing the valve to be raised, and when it turns back the valve is held down upon the seat.

As the lower follower moves up it carries with it a bar, P, connected by its lower end to one end of a lever, P, fulcrumed at P to a support, the other end of the lever being connected by alink, P to a beam, P, pivoted to a bracket, P and connected at its inner end to the bar F by a link, P (See Fig. 1.) It will be seen that this connection will cause the bar Pto rise with the lower follower, and in doing so it lifts the hook O of the bar and disengages it from the hook O of the bar 0 by means of a bracket, P secured to it, (the bar P;) and as the follower and bar continue to ascend a bracket,P (see Figs. 15, 16, 27, and 28,) comes against a pin, 0", on the quadrant O vand moves it back in a direction opposite to that in whichit was moved by the charger, turning the shaft J to close the valves opened by the charger, as described, and open the other set of valves. The upper end of the bar P-is held in place by the pin 0", fitting in a slot, P in the bar.

When the bricks are completed, the trip (by the liquid arrangement shown,deseribed, and claimed inmy said application) is operated, allowing engine N N N to operate, and the followers start to move upward together, as described in said patent, when a dog, U, on a bar, U, comes against the projecting end RP of the pin R (see Figs. 12, 14, and 20) and moves the crank of the high-pressure valve in the opposite direction, from which it has been moved by the bar R, to partly return the parts (the valve having closed when the pressure between the pipes became equalized, asin said patent.) It moves it from the position shown in Fig. to that shown in Fig. 11. The bar U is connected to the outer end of the beam ICC P, and it will be understood thatit will move down while the follower is moving up, and vice versa. lVhen the bar has partly restored these parts, (the upper follower continuing to move upward, as described in said patent,) a dog, R, (see Figs. 9, 20, 27, and 28,) on the bar B (it will be understood that the bar R will be moving downward at this time,'as the upper follower is moving up) comes against a projecting end, R of the pin R and moves the crank from the position shown in-Fig. 11 to that shown in Fig. 13, and completes the movement of the parts, and the valve will be held closed until the shaft is again turned by the upper follower coming down, as described. As this bar is coming down, a dog, R '011 it above the dog R", comes against a pin,V,projecting from a quadrant, V, which is of the same shape and supported in the same manner as the quadrant O, and-bearing against it are arms V on the shaft K that operates the valves of the valve-box that belong to the charger, as specified. When the dog comes against this pin, as just mentioned, it moves the quadrant from the position shown in Fig. 19 to that shown in Fig. 18,, opening the valves of the valve-box to admit water behind the charger-piston to cause thecharger to move forward and shove the bricks from over the IIO mold before the lower follower descends and fills the molds, as described in said patent, and as the charger goes forward the front end of a push-barflV', carried by the bar comes against the arm N of the rock'shaft N,

- as and for the purpose mentioned in said patcut, and the lower follower,t hen beginning; to descend,the bar U rises, and a dog, U thereon comes against the pin V on the opposite side of the quadrant from the bar R, and moves the quadrant back from the position shown in Fig. 18 to that shown in Fig. 19,to cause the charger to recede. It is necessary that the bar It should be moved laterally before the dog U comes against the pin V" for the purpose of removing the dog R from over the pin V. This is accomplished by a cam, U on the bar U that comes against a pin,R on the bar R,and forces the bar outward from the position shown in Fig. 18 to that shown in Fig. 19, when the dog will not be over the pin, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 19. As soon as the cam moves down again away from the pin the bar R is moved back to its normal position by a spring, R The bars U and P have handles on their upper ends by which they may be moved laterally by hand, when desired.

The valve-stem K of the chamber Z of said Patent No. 195,169 (the valve and accompanying parts of which are the same in this application as in said patent) is connected to the cross-head G (see Fig. 1) by a lever, l, and rod Z (See Fig. 1.)

To regulate the fall of the lower follower to allow just the desired amount of clay to enter the mold, I hinge a bar, Y, to a support, Y, against the inner end of which the bar F comes in its downward movement. Secured to the outer end of this baris arod, Y screwing through a bracket, Y, and having a handwheel, Y, by which it is turned to regulate the fall of the follower.

One set of the valves could be operated in this way, and the other by the old or some other means-that is, the charger-valves could be operated by the means herein described, and the upper follower-valvesbe operated by the old or some other means, or vice versa; but I prefer to use the means herein shown and described to operate both sets of valves.

I claim as my invention 1. In a hydraulicbrick-machine, the combination, with a valve-box and two sets of valves therein, of a rock-shaft having arms or tappels projecting from its opposite sides, and connections between said arms and the respective sets of valves, whereby one or the other set is opened according to the direction in which the shaft is rocked, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the upper follower, water-engine 1 located over the follower, beam secured to the piston-rod of the engine, and rods connecting the beam to the piston of the follower, substantially as and for the purpose set forth, the

engine consisting of a cylinder, casing within the cylinder, piston having a flange on its lower end and fitting within a flange on the lower end of the casing, packing-rings on the piston between the said flanges, disk on the upper end of the piston-rod, and set-screws passing through the disk and into the upper end of the casing to tighten thepacking-rings and supporting the casing, as specified.

3. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the box supplied with valves, in combination with the rock -shafts for operating the valves of the upper follower and charger-pipes, one fitting over the other and the two acting independently of each other, substantially as set forth.

4. In a hydraulic brick machine, the box supplied with valves. in combination with the shafts fitting one over the other, acting independently of each other, means for rocking the shafts, and arms and levers connecting the shafts to the valve-stems, substantially as set forth.

5. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the box supplied with valves, in combination with rock shafts connected to the stems of the valves, and means for operating the shafts independently of each other, substantially as set forth.

6. In a hydraulic brick machine, the box supplied with valves, in combination with rock -shafts connected to the stems of the valves, quadrants, and bars connected to the followers and charger of the machine and provided with dogs or brackets for moving the quadrants to rock the shafts and operate the valves, substantially as set forth.

7. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the box supplied with valves, in combination with rock-shafts connected to the stems of the valves, quadrants, bars secured to the followers and charger of the machine, and having dogs or brackets for moving the quadrants to rock the shafts and operate the valves, and the high-pressure valve. the stem of which is adapted to be operated by the said followerbars, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the box provided with valves, in combination with rock-shafts, arms, and levers connecting the shafts with the stems of the valves,quadrants, bars connected to the followers and charger of the machine and provided with dogs for operating the quadrants, high-pressure valve, shaft provided with a crank connected to the stem of said valve, and crank secured to said shaft provided with a pin fitting in a slot in the lower end of the bar connected to the upper follower and adapted to be engaged by dogs on the last-mentioned bar and on the bar connected to the lower follower, said bars being moved in the opposite direction to the followers to which they are respectively connected, as set forth.

9. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the bars connected to the followers of the machine, in combination with the high pressure valve,

ICC

rock-shaft provided with a crank connected to the stem of said valve, crank on said shaft provided with a pin fitting in a slotin the lower end of the bar connected to the upper follower to operate the stem of the valve, and

dogs on the said bars for coming against the ends of the said pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the bars connected to the followers of the machine, in combination with a rock-shaft which the bars move as the followers are operated, a crank on the shaft, highpressure valve, and a fulcrumed lever connected at one end to the valve-stem and at the other end to the crank on the rockshaft, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the bars connected to the followers of the machine, in combination with a rock-shaft which the bars operate as the followers are moved, a crank on the rock-shaft, high pressure valve, a fulcrumed lever connected at one end to the valve-stem and at the other end to the crank on the rock-shaft by means of a rod and bars passing through plates between which is placed a spring, and a spring beneath the le ver, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the box supplied with-valves,rockshaft for operating the charger-valves, quadrant for rocking the shaft, bars connected to the followers of the machine, and dogs on said bars for moving the quadrant to rock the shaft and operate the valves, substantially as set forth.

13. In a hydraulic brickmachine, the combination of the box supplied with valves,rockshaft for operating the charger-valves, quadrant for rocking the shaft, bars provided with dogs for moving the quadrant to rock the shaft and operate the valves, as specified, the bars being connected to the followers of the machine in such 'a manner as to move in an opposite direction to the followers to which they are respectively connected, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the box supplied with valves,rockshaft for operating the charger-valves, quadrant for rocking the shaft, bars provided with dogs for moving the quadrant to rock the shaft and operate the valves, as specified, the bars being connected to the followers of the machine by means of pivoted beams, crossheads, links connecting the beam to the crossheads, and rods connecting the beams with the follower-pistons, substantially as set forth.

15. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the box supplied with valves, rockshaft for operating the charger-valves, downwardly-ext'ending arms on said shaft, quadrant having two surfaces against which said arms bear, bars connected to the followers of the machine, and dogs on the bars to move the quadrant to rock the shaft through means of the arms to operate the valves, substantially as set forth.

16. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the box supplied with valves, rockshaft for operating the charger-valves, downwardly-extending arms on said shaft, quadrant having two bearing-surfaces against which said arms bear, bars connected to the followers of the machine, dogs on the bars for moving the quadrant to rock the shaft through means of the arms to operate the valves, cam on one of the bars and a pin on the other, the cam adapted to come against the pin to move its bar laterally, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

17. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the high pressure valve, rockshaft provided with a crank and connected, as described, to thestem of said valve, bars connected to the followers of the machine, one

of which has a slot to receive apin on said.

crank, and dogs secured to the bars, adapted to come in contact with said pin and turn the shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the high-pressure valve, rockshaft provided with a crank and connected, as described, to the stem of said valve, bars connected to the followers of the machine, and a pin in said shaft against which the dogs strike and turnthe shaft to operate the valve-stem, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the box supplied with valves, rockshaft for operating the upper follower-valves,

quadrant for rocking the shaft, bars connect-' ed, respectively, to the charger and lower follower of the machine and adapted to engage and move said quadrant to rock the shaft and operate the valves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the box supplied with valves, rockshaft for operating the upper follower-valve, quadrant for rocking the shaft, bars connected, respectively, to the charger and lower follower of the machine, short bars secured to the quadrant and provided with a hook with which a hook on the chargerbar engages to move the quadrant in one direction, dog on the follower-bar to disconnect said hooks, and a second dog on said bar to engage a pin on the quadrant and move the quadrant in the opposite direction from which it was moved by the charger, substantially as set forth.

21. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the combination of the box supplied. with valves, rockshaft for operating the upper followervalves, arms on said shaft, quadrant on which said arms bear to rock the shaft, bars connected, respectively, to the charger and lower follower of the machine and adapted to engage and move said quadrant to rock the shaft and operate the valves, as specified, said bar being connected to the lower follower by a pivoted lever, beam, link connecting the lever to the beam, bar or cross-head, link connecting the end of which the said bar rests when the folhcani to the bar, and rods connecting the her lower is in its lower position, and screw-rod IO to the follower-piston, substantially as shown for adjusting the bar to regulate the fall of the and described. for the purpose set forth. follower, as and for the purpose set forth. 5 22. In a hydraulic brick-machine, the cozn- \VILLTS N. GRAVES.

bination of, the bar or cross-head connected to In presence ofthe lower follower piston, engine for pulling GEO. H. KNIGHT,

said follower down, pivoted bar, against one SAML. KNIGHT. 

